This year 650 criminal cases opened in Moscow over illegal migration

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, October 13 (Itar-Tass) - This year, 650 criminal cases have been opened in Moscow in connection with illegal migration, Moscow police chief Anatoly Yakunin said at an emergency session on Sunday.

The session was convened amid unrest continuing in the Biryulyovo district in the south of Moscow after a fatal stabbing of a local resident, blamed on migrant workers.

Last year, 80 criminal cases related to illegal migration were opened, Yakunin said. According to him, fight against ethnic crimes has been stepped up in the city. “Of course, citizens would want us to solve that problem overnighty, but it is impossible. It is a very tense daily work by law enforcement agencies,” he said. “We are working in cooperation with the Federal Migration Service, of course. We will continue this work and we will boost it,” he pledged.

“But we don’t need assistance like we have seen today. This help only brings problems,” he added.

He also dismissed accusations directed at the Moscow government that the vegetable warehouse in Biryulyovo had not been closed timely. According to locals many migrants work at that warehouse.

“Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin promptly reacts to all signals, especially to our information. More than 30 markets have been closed already, and this work continues,” he said. “The warehouse in Biryulyovo cannot be closed overnight, but the problem will be solved gradually,” he added.